Lingerie Review: Ewa Bien “Daria” B103

It has been a while since I tested Ewa Bien bras myself: they are actually visually one of my top favourite brands but unfortunately, most of their beautiful bras stopped at G- or H-cup in Polish sizes. As someone who wears 70J in their bras, this made the brand out of reach for me. When I reported this problem to Ewa Bien and though I understand the limitations when it comes to bra manufacturing and running a business successfully, Ewa Bien team took my advice and plea, and added a couple new full-bust appropriate styles to their collection! This is amazing, as making J-M cups is not always the easiest nor the most cost-effective thing to do. Today I am trying out their new B103 style in Black/Grey Daria. Here’s how it turned out for me! *This bra was sent to me by the lovely Ewa Bien team. All opinions are my own.*

The Design: The B103 is meant for the fuller bust as it goes up to Polish M-cup, equivalent to UK J-cup. This is an amazing size expansion for a family-lead brand, that doesn’t yet have the audience of Panache and other huge brands. In Poland however, businesses such as Ewa Bien are very popular and Polish women trust in their country-women’s knowledge on bra-making. No wonder – the shape you can get with a Polish bra is unrivaled and Ewa Bien is no exception.

The shape with the B103 is very uplifted and it has a great deal of immediate projection, which is something many women look for in their bras. The cups are constructed of four parts: it has the traditional three-part cup construction but for added support, there is a side sling to bring the breasts even more forward. This prevents the breasts from splaying towards my sides, which is something I can always appreciate.

The Daria style seems to be something that Ewa Bien is making as one of their core styles for bigger cup sizes. The style is also available in other cuts which doesn’t have the massive size range, but they do make it in one other full-bust style, the semi-soft B151. The Daria also comes in two colour combinations: Black/Cream and Black/Grey, of which I chose the latter one. Grey has recently become one of my favourite colours in both clothing and underwear and I love the sophisticated combination of black and grey a lot.The cups are completely see-through which is nice if you are looking for something a bit sexy for your everyday bradrobe.

The Fit: The B103 is quite a regular balconette style cut, with a 3/4 coverage. Personally, I would prefer something a bit more revealing like the styles I tried a couple of years back from Ewa Bien, but I have no issue wearing this bra either on a regular basis. The cut still suits a variety of necklines and is a great basic style for everyday wear.

I am wearing my regular Polish size 70J (UK 32GG) with this bra and I am very happy with the size – the band is stretchier than with many other Polish brands but this suits me fine as I like my bands comfortable. The fastening happens with three hooks and eyes and the band is wide enough to feel comfortable and supportive on someone with my body type (ie. small band, big cups). I would say the size runs very true-to-size if you have tried Polish or other European brands before. If you are between band sizes, I would advice to size up with most Ewa Bien styles.

My only gripe with the fit is the wires – however, wires are the one part that are highly personal when it comes to what fits your body the best and I prefer wires that are medium-to-narrow width. This style is a bit on the wider side for me, but not alarmingly so. If I could, I would have them just one cm narrower, that’s all. The depth is absolutely perfect for me, and I like how it contains me fully top, bottom and sides without any extra bulging.

Comfort: This set is made of very comfortable materials and it’s lightweight which makes it easy to wear almost under anything. The top part of the cups is a bit stretchy so it suits many breast shapes without being too restricting for a full-on-top girl like me. The band is comfortable and the whole ensemble is very sturdy if you need to be active and walk/move around a lot during the day.

The only thing I am having issues with, are once again the straps. Even though they are rather wide and comfortable themselves, they are placed a bit too widely for my body type. This makes the bra cup’s edge chafe my armpit just a little, which is not ideal if you want your bra to “feel like nothing”. Overall, I would say this bra style is meant for someone a bit wider than me, when it comes to breast tissue distribution, shoulders and rib cage.

The panties are, in a very Polish manner, quite snug in sizing. I went for the size Medium which does fit me okay, but I would perhaps prefer something a bit more covering. However, the C511 style is a classic Brazilian so it’s not even meant to cover a ton. Great for feeling a bit cheeky, quite literally!

If you would fancy giving this new full-bust style a go, you can find it on Ewa Bien’s own online store. The B103 bra (219 zl) comes in Polish sizes 65-100 B-M (enormous size range, right?!) and the C511 briefs (109 zl) come in sizes S-XXL. What do you think of size expansion and the Daria? Let me know in the comments!

Lingerie Review: Cleo by Panache “Marcie” in 32GG

Who remembers my endless love for Marcie? This bra has a distinct cult reputation in the world of lingerie blogging and full bust industry. It was launched a few years ago and still goes strong in the Cleo collection, changing its colour every season. For a couple of years Panache was asked to deliver their customers a Marcie in basic colours; black and nude. Again, nude is not the same for everyone but this time, the shade was so perfect for me personally I really wanted to try it – and who knows, maybe we will get a chocolate coloured Marcie sometime soon! Here are my thoughts on this old favourite in my most recent size, 32GG. *This set was generously provided by Panache. All opinions are my own!*

The Design: I have always been a big fan of Marcie – it’s a cutesy style that is perfect for everyday wear with its flat embroidery and thin materials. The scalloped upper cups look adorable and give me a mermaid-y vibe, which is always a good thing I reckon. It’s very girly so not everyone’s cup of rum but I don’t mind the bows and dots now and then, as I am quite a versatile person when it comes to my bradrobe (obviously, haha!). The shade of beige is absolutely spot on for me, that is very pale, and I just wish Panache would make some more dark-coloured options for people with tanned, brown or black skin tones. To me though, it is the closest I can probably ever get to a skin-coloured bra!

Marcie’s cups are constructed of three pieces each, with one vertical and one horizontal seam forming a very classic balconette shape. The shape that is creates is super forward-projecting and rounded: something most lingerie bloggers have come to love from the very launch of Marcie.

The Fit: So what has changed since I last wore Marcie? Well, I think my size has changed since a bit; my body has probably a bit less fluff and a bit more muscle and my boobs have got a cup size bigger. I am now wearing a size 32GG whereas two summers back I wore a 30G, which was probably a cup size too small to begin with. To say the least, the 32GG feels quite a bit different, mostly because even two cup sizes can change the fit specs of a bra. Mostly the difference seems to be the wires which are a tad wider than what they would need to be for me. There is also a bit more empty space at the top of the cups which makes me wonder whether I should have tried 32G as well.

The cups are as deep as with the 30G which is definitely a good thing. I would say that they even so deep that you may be able to go down a cup size with this style, especially if you are in the upper end of the size range! The 32 band still fits me fairly well, even though I still think I could wear a 31 band with Panache if it existed. The Cleo bands are a bit tighter than with the Panache main line, which is why I feel the 32 band is still a better choice than the 30.

Comfort: I still love Marcie even though I think there may be some slight fit issues with the bigger cup sizes, such as the too wide underwires (that is for me, I know there is always someone who these would fit perfectly!). My only real gripe with this bra is the placement of the straps; as you can see, I have pulled them up on my shoulders so that they sit diagonally on my body, which is not the best thing regarding comfort. However, I am surprised how little this feature affects me and how well the straps stay up regardless. Nothing about this bra rubs me or pokes me so even though the fit itself is not perfect, I love how comfy and lightweight it feels during a full day at work.

The pants are cute as ever but as a vintage gal myself, I really wish they would start making them in a higher waisted version as well. These are super low cut so not the most comfortable choice for me personally. I know however that some gals adore the cut of these and I used to love it too, but ya know, tastes change. They are still nice cute everyday panties and I never say no to ruffles!

If you are interested in the beige Marcie set, you can find at Bravissimo (£27 + £14) and Bare Necessities which both ship internationally. The bra comes in sizes 28-38 B-J and the bottoms in XXS-XXL.

Dreaming of a Lost Summer – Review of Tutti Rouge “Betty” in Brighton Rocks Print

Hi darlings! Has the autumn been kind to you? Mine has been hectic to say the least and I am quite frankly exhausted. I have been studying, working, learning how to eat again, fighting for my paycheck, seeing friends and dancing on a stage a few times. Guess what I’m really trying to do here is to tell you why I have been so absent for these past couple of months! I have one more month left of my uni training program at the kids’ mental rehab courses and I have a couple of shows behind me, but I have also completed my first month of eating five times a day with glowing results. I am starting to feel normal about my eating habits and body again, which is a true blessing.

With a little light in the horizon, I would like to bring some light to your lives as well and introduce you to a treat I was recently sent by Tutti Rouge. As you may know, I haven’t had that much luck with the most recent bras I have tried from them but now that it has been a rather long time, I figured it was time for  a second trial lap. Long story short: I fell in love again! If you wanna know the full details, here is a review of the new TR “Betty”.

First of all: apologies for the differences in lighting and colours in these pics. It is getting dark again here in Finland and it is so hard for an amateur to edit the pics from scratch when they are super dark and yellow-y to begin with!

The Design: I was happy to see that the Tutti Team had included the Betty bra in my parcel, as it was the first Tutti Rouge bra I’ve ever tried when they decided to believe me and send me some of my first blog samples. It is always fascinating to see how a core part of a brand’s collection changes over time, as there may be some style and fit tweaks that can change the whole game. The last time I tried Betty was a couple of years back at a Moda when they brought out the turquoise colourway of the original poppy print. That time the Betty bra was still trying to find its best fit and the 32H I still own did not and does not fit that well – it chafed my armpits and added bulk to my figure.

The case is completely different with the Brighton Rocks Betty bra – the shape it gives is very rounded, yet there is just enough coverage for my liking and subtle uplift to make you feel natural about your boobs (ya know, not that boobs-up-your-chin effect, hehe). The construction of the bra has changed from the original three piece pattern to a two-piece construction, with one vertical seam going across the cups in the middle. The padding of the bra is quite thin so this is ACTUALLY, REALLY a padded bra I can wear without the feeling I am suffocating me and everyone else with my boobs. I wear this bra with everything: under my work button-ups, my PUG peasant tops and my Dolores doll dresses. Anything that requires a low-cut balconette bra, and this bra is my biggest ally.

When it comes to the print, you need to scroll down to the panties pic to see it properly. And low and behold, it is a lovely print, isn’t it? I think the best asset of Tutti Rouge has always been their attention to detail and once again, they have nailed it. The small beach chairs and popsicles, maps and envelopes – it is the perfect bra for a wanderlust gal like myself. The print was inspired by the British seashore, the city of Brighton to be exact, and it still reminds me of my dream to go back to UK to explore the beachside towns one day. The print is accompanied by the small details TR is famous for; small cutesy ruffles, bows and the signature heart-shaped strap adjusters.

The Fit: I wasn’t too hopeful about TR bras fitting me this time either but boy was I wrong, and I am more than happy to admit it. It felt like finding home when I put this bra on and since then, it has stayed on with constant washing as it is now one of my most comfortable, practical bras I own. But more about that later!

The sizing seems to be now pretty on par with other UK mainstream brands such as Curvy Kate and Panache and thus I seem to be between band sizes 30 and 32. I decided to go for a 32GG with both of the bras I received, as I think it’s always safer to go with the bigger size and then tighten it with the hooks and eyes, if it is not snug enough. This saves me the hassle of exchanging my size and paying for shipping costs, so I am happy with my choice. With the Betty, I don’t think I could have gone down to 30 band though, just for comfort reasons and I can still wear the band in the loosest set of hooks comfortably. I have also recently noticed that too tight bands can be a stress factor to my skin which is why I now go more for the 32 band rather than 30.

The cups run similar to other British brands as well and I am perfectly content with my GG-cups. The only minor thing that affects the fit is that the bra is lightly padded meaning that it can’t really conform to my shape per se and thus it does not allow any leeway on my bigger boob. However, this is probably some of the best fits I can get in a similarly shaped padded bra, so I am more than happy with the fit overall. The wires are also a pretty good fit for me – if I were super strict about finding the perfect bra, I would say they are a tad too wide but as I think more of the comfort factor of bras, I would say they needn’t be changed to make this bra better. I think there is also a bit more space and depth in the cups than any previous TR bras I’ve tried, which is an instant upside for me personally.

Comfort: The level of comfiness with the new Betty is similar to its very original counterpart – everything seems to be spot on with the bra. The bra feels super lightweight even with the padding, and the the inner cups are lined with a divinely thin layer of the softest cotton you can imagine. A heaven for my eczema torn boobies! It also feels like this bra truly breathes and thus I avoid the dreaded boob sweat that is especially very present in summer time. The lace on the edge of the cups is not itchy at all and I can really give this bra an A+ for the comfort factor. The straps are quite thin which can be a downside for some but I personally like the look and feel of them.

The panties unfortunately did not work for me and it makes me super sad. I used to LOVE the short-style knickers that came with the Poppy print Bettys and I am kind of surprised why they haven’t been kept in the range. The new Betty shorts are super cute to say the least but unfortunately the choice of materials is not the best with these – the mesh and the waistband elastic are so rigid, it is almost impossible to sit down and feel comfy. If you do want to get a matching set though, I would recommend going up even two sizes from your regular UK size, as these are a Medium and fit me very tightly. I can put them on but I must say there is no stretch in the back for “junk in the trunk”.

Overall, I would say to probably skip the panties for now BUT do get the bra if you feel like you need a cute practical everyday bra but also something to go under your freetime low-cut tops. The bra is FABULOUS and retails only for £20 on sale at Very.co.uk. The Brighton Rocks print is pretty much sold out everywhere but Tutti Rouge just launched their burlesque performer print of the same Betty style and I hope to be all over it very soon as well, so snatch it up before it sells out this time. The bra goes up to H-cup so the size range is pretty generous as well!

Lingerie: Avocado “Chloe Folie NF” in 70H

Even though autumn and winter are upon us, it is never a wrong time for basic coloured lingerie, something that most people call “nude” (which is a bit problematic as nude does not mean the same thing to everyone). Some work places require a white button-up as basic work attire, which is why you can never have too many skin-toned bras. When I first saw Avocado‘s Chloe Folie, I thought that this is a truly versatile yet pretty “nude bra” – it could probably work on multiple skin tones, from a fair skin like mine to deeper ashy tones. Avocado sent me this style in their NF style, which is a revised version of their old H-cut, where the straps attach to the bottom part of the cup. Here’s how I liked this delicate beauty…

The Design:  I loved the colour combination of this set right from the start – it was a great pairing of greige (greyish beige) and deep magenta. The lace is delicate and who does not like the little tassels at the front? As a lingerie blogger, you start to get tired of the old bows, which is why the tassels were a nice surprising touch to the design. Regardless of the centre gore adornments and the lace, the style of Chloe Folie is quite simple and thus work appropriate. The lace is very thin, meaning you can wear it under regular shirts without it showing through too much. However, it is not a seamless t-shirt bra so you won’t get a “braless” look with it, if that is what you require from your everyday work bras!

The shape is rather similar to the old H-cut, but it seems to be a bit less covering and pointy and thus for me at least, a lot more practical. There is also quite a bit of uplift, but the one thing I don’t like that much is how the balconette shape splays my breasts to the sides a bit. I like my boobs “at the front” as they make me appear bigger than I am anyways. Keeping them as compact as possible makes me feel more comfortable and look the size I actually am rather than looking wide and frumpy. The one definite upside of the bra is that Avocado seems to be working with much stretchier materials these days and even though the the upper panel of the cup is not exactly stretch lace, the cups seem quite stretchy overall.

The Fit: As I knew from my past experience with the Avocado NF-style, it would probably fit me nicely this time as well. I was right – my size still seems to be 70H with the NF style, but with the Chloe Folie, I would be wary of not picking a too tight band size. If you are between band sizes, definitely size up! This style is not as tight as the Lorca I reviewed recently, but it is still on the snugger side compared to my older Avocado bras.

The cups are still the perfect size for me, even on the roomier end of the H-cup which is excellent if you need deep cups. What kind of baffles me is the cup width-depth ratio; usually deep cups mean narrower wires whereas this Avocado style seems to be both quite deep AND wide. The underwires are a tad too wide for me personally, but I don’t find them pinching me in the armpit whatsoever.

When it comes to shape compatibility, my full-on-top breasts are definitely friends with Chloe Folie: the RV shape seems quite open at the top with this particular style and thus leaves me more room for my upper breast tissue, that sometimes can argue with a cup pattern like this. In general, I’d think this bra would suit many breast shapes if you are not bothered by the wideness of the cups.

I know they look like a different colour but they are not! The lighting is playing its tricks on me – the real colour is more of a mixture of both of the pics shown above.

Comfort: I like this set a lot but there is one fundamental problem with it and I actually mentioned it before already: the band is a bit too small for me unfortunately. Not as much to make me want to size up a whole size, but maybe half a band size too snug. I can close the bra no problem, but the rigid band does not conform to my body very easily, which is why I haven’t worn the bra a lot during long days at work. Otherwise there are no comfort issues with the bra really: the tacking centre gore loosens quite quickly after a few wears and I especially like the width of the straps which are too widely placed for me personally, but still manage to feel good without any chafing.

The bottoms on the other hand are fantastic! I love that Avocado has brought the option of high-waisted panties into their selection and they have nailed it right away. I have to say though that the Medium is a bit too large for me, so if you are between two sizes, I would advice to size down with these. The rise of the panty is divine: it reaches my belly button and covers my butt well. A covering comfortable style yet still very attractive in my opinion!

If you would like to test the Chloe Folie set, you can find on the Avocado online store for 66,92€ for the bra (60-95 C-L, Avocado sizes) and 33,96€ for the full brief (XS-XXL). If these are not the shapes and styles you prefer personally, you can find the Chloe Folie in other Avocado styles as well. What do you think of the Chloe Folie? Have you tried the new Avocado styles recently? Let me know in the comments! xx

Party-time Basics: Review of Curvy Kate “Luxe” Strapless in 30H

Are you by chance having a celebration this summer? I know it’s already July but I am sure there are still plenty of summer weddings and other festivities left for this summer season! In fact, I have a little celebration of my own tomorrow – I graduated as a Bachelor of Education with a masters in Educational Psychology and now I am throwing a BBQ for it! I am super excited and I got way better grades than I thought I would get. The Finnish uni grades go from 1 to 5, with 5 being best and I got 4 from my major and also from all my minors (gender studies, health science & fine arts) – so I am more than pleased as I just wanted to get through it all without losing my sanity. Well, enough of rambling, I am sure you are here for something else!

As we full-busted gals attend parties, especially in the summer, we may want to wear that cute strapless dress like any gal; but that my dearies, requires a strapless bra as you know. When I was a 30FF I actually still found it quite easy to find supportive strapless bras but after I crossed the dreaded G-cup barrier, there weren’t many options anymore. When Curvy Kate came out with their Luxe strapless, I was sure to get my hands on it as it promised great support in the biggest cup sizes as well. I got my first Luxe a year ago but unfortunately picked a wrong size for vanity reasons – yes that happens to us bra bloggers as well. This is why I was so pleased when Curvy, an Australian bra retailer, offered to send me the Luxe set alongside my Tease camisole. Here’s how I liked this convenient little friend…

The Design: Let’s face it – no beige strapless bra is ever going to be particularly pretty. It’s just the simple truth and there is no way around it. I think Curvy Kate did a pretty good job with the Luxe though; it’s not hideous and even though it is pretty plain (as a basic bra should be), there are some nice touches to it like the pinstripe pattern of the bra band and the fabric-coated buttons at the centre gore. The hue is not the best for me as I am much more “pink” thank the creamy butter-y shade of the Luxe “Biscotti” shade. But who am I to complain – I am pretty sure there are no D+ strapless bras for women of colour, so I am lucky to even get close to my own skin tone with this bra! I haven’t tried it with any white shirts or dresses so I cannot say whether it would show through but it’s not the most discreet of bras anyway.

The shape of the Luxe is absolutely amazing and I love how rounded CK managed to make it. Most D+ straplesses give a kind of deflated conical look which is less than ideal, meaning CK definitely set their product apart from other full-bust offerings in the market. The cups are made with a three part cup construction with two vertical seams, which unfortunately show through a bit if you are wearing eg a thinner jersey fabric over it. However, if I could choose between this and the Freya Deco, the Luxe would win 6-0 as it gives a better shape, fits me quite well and is comfortable to wear even for several hours.

The Fit: I went for my regular Curvy Kate size 30H with the Luxe this time and it’s definitely a right choice. I tell you: DO NOT compromise on fit if you are debating whether to get the bigger size that fits better or the smaller size that fits okay but looks nicer as it gives less coverage. IT WILL NOT WORK. I can’t stress this enough: The bigger cup size made all the difference to me as the smaller cups were pushed by my boobs downwards and I ended up tucking and adjusting the 30GG multiple times a day. Not a fun job to do on a night out! The 30H fits me very well and even though the band is a bit tighter than with your usual CK bra, I like it that way as I hate having a strapless falling down my body.

When it comes to wires and cup depth, I feel the Luxe is a bit different from what I am used to from CK: the wires actually hit me at the perfect spot, right at my breast root. Even though the cups are a bit deeper too, you can see some shallowness at the bottom of them, as the cup foam is collapsing a tiny bit. I am not bothered by this though and I am happy how much there is actually space for my boobs at the top of the cups – they are really nice on an evenly full shape but also suit full-on-top breast quite well!

Comfort: I had pretty darn high expectations for this bra when it released as so many bloggers and CK itself claimed it to be a life-changing miracle-worker – so when I bought my first Luxe in 30GG, you may have guessed it, I was a bit disappointed. I am so glad that I got to try the 30H now though as it has changed my opinion on the bra entirely – it truly is one of the best strapless bras I have tried in my life. The materials are very soft and feel nice on even during the hotter months of summer. The wires reach me just at my breast root, meaning they don’t poke me in the armpit causing irritation. The band is quite wide with four hooks and eyes, so it is definitely supportive enough for my H-cup boobies. My only gripe with the bra is that there is little piece of extra boning on the band that can get a bit poke-y during the day, but I am guessing it’s there so the wider band wouldn’t flip up or roll around.

I also received the Luxe thong in size 10 with the bra and I can report that it is a very comfy option for someone looking for a regular beige thong to wear under eg white trousers. I never ever wear a thong anymore so it’s not something I will reach for often, but it is a good thing to have in your lingerie wardrobe when the occasion comes. The materials of the thong are very sleek and stretchy so the size 10 was spot on for me. The rise is pretty regular but on the lower side so if you like a more hipster style with higher rise, you may want to skip this.

If you are getting married this summer, or attending summer party in a strapless dress, I would very much recommend the Luxe to any D+ bride / guest out there. The size range of the bra is a whopping 28-38 D-J which is incredible in my opinion! If you would like to get your very own Luxe, it retails for 94,99 AUD at Curvy and comes in both Black and Biscotti. You also have a chance of winning a set of your choice from Curvy, so take a look at the giveaway instructions here. Have you tried the Luxe yet? Which strapless bra do you like the best? Let me know in the comments! xx

SIL Tradeshow: Preview of Curvy Kate AW16 Collection

The whole full bust world loves Curvy Kate: it’s one of those brands that seems to cater to so many different tastes and breast shapes, and they also carry a tremendously big size range from D all the way up to K-cup (all styles below are up to K unless otherwise specified). As one of the biggest full-bust brands in the market, we made sure to visit the CK stand at the Salon International de la Lingerie. If you are intrigued to know what’s up with their AW16 collection, keep reading! (From tomorrow, I will be on a vacation for a week so I won’t be posting for a little while. So sorry for that!)

Princess in Blueberry, Ellace in Crimson, Dreamcatcher in Magenta, Atomic in Plum (up to J), Florence in Bowder Blue (up to J)

REVAMPED CLASSICS

The styles above are good old favourites that have been revised with new colour combinations – these styles include both the classic Curvy Kate non-padded balconettes as well as non-padded plunges such as the Atomic. I actually love Atomic: it reminds me a lot of the atomic prints that were popular in the 50’s. The plum shade is not a favourite for me unfortunately, but I do like the SS16 orange/pink version of it a lot! Another favourite from this lot is the new CK basic Ellace; it’s a balconette bra with lovely thin cup material and soft stretch lace to ensure the best fit for many different breast shapes.

Wild Cat in Leopard, Daydreamer in Floral Print & Daily Dream in Blueberry Mix

WHIMSICAL PRINTS

Curvy Kate loves their cutesy and wild prints and it’s no different this season! Both the Daily Dream and the Daydreamer are older styles with new young prints – to be honest, something a bit too juvenile for me personally. But I do see the potential with these prints as they would both be excellent choices for pre-teen and teen girls who want cute age-appropriate D+ bras. The Wild Cat on the other hand is a great everyday option for any fun and flirty gal out there – the print is very ‘Curvy Kate’ and the colour combo absolutely appropriate for autumn season.

Ellace in Latte, Smoothie Deluxe in Rose (up to J) & Smoothie Spirit in Latte (up to J)

NEW BASICS

I love how Curvy Kate has made their Smoothie bra range blossom: it reminds me a bit of Freya’s Deco range but still, the CK Smoothie styles seem to differ a bit more from each other, instead of just being different colourways. The Smoothie Deluxe is a nice more luxe, grown-up version of the original Smoothie; there is no leopard print but a beautiful soft lace on the bra band and completely smooth print-less cups that cater for a classic taste. The new Smoothie Spirit on the other hand is a new beige bra targeted for the younger CK customers who want less coverage and a cute everyday bra. Both of the styles feature a J-hook on straps to convert the bra to a racerback.

Vixen in Black/Almond (up to J), Belle in Blush/Black, Cabaret in Black/Blush (up to J) & Kitty in Merlot (up to J)

THE BOUDOIR PRINCESS

From the more sexy “Showgirl” (an old term but I still use it!) offering from Curvy Kate, I would say my personal favourites are the Belle and Kitty. Kitty is an older style that has been revamped with the Merlot colourway, which to me is absolutely gorgeous. I love that we see some more shades of burgundy this autumn as it is a bit neglected shade among all the Xmas reds and plums. This particular shade would go perfectly with ginger hair, which makes me even more eager to get my hands on it. The Belle is a completely new style with cute “tuxedo bows” at the centre gore and a beautiful colour combination of grey and blush pink, which makes this sexy style a tad more romantic.

How do you like the upcoming Curvy Kate collection? Which ones are your favourites? Let me know in the comments below! xx

Lingerie Review: Rochella “Tattoo Butterfly” in 32GG

I recently wrote about a new DD+ brand Rochella which is a British middle-market brand with a good cause and a unique, more mature yet quirky aesthetics. I remember back in the day Miss Underpinnings used to talk about the lack of full-bust brands catering for the 30-something customer and I personally feel Rochella is the answer to that plea. The designs are suitable for any age but I think they do have more grown-up styles than eg Cleo and Curvy Kate, yet the styles are not “old” but a bit whimsical to maintain a fresh look. When interviewing the founder of the brand, Karen, she asked if I wanted to review one of her sets and of course I said yes! Today I am bringing you one of the first (if not the very first?) Rochella blog reviews out there, with their beautiful “Tattoo Butterfly” set.

The Design: I was instantly drawn to the Tattoo Butterfly set as it was something rather unique to me: I had never had a bra with butterflies on it and even though the idea sounded a bit juvenile to me, there is nothing too young and cute about this bra. The design is, in one word, STUNNING. I have actually always loved butterflies, I hate bugs in general, but I find butterflies to be the miracles of nature and each time I see one, it makes me so happy. Even though butterflies are usually depicted as super colourful with the shades of orange and yellow, I really enjoyed the teal and black combination of the set which makes it so much more sophisticated. Also the completely sheer upper panel of the bra is amazing, something not many brands have been brave enough to do.

The shape of the bra is something between the new Curvy Kate balconettes and perhaps a slight bit of Freya G+ balconettes. There is a tiny bit of point to the apex but there is still much more room at the top of the cup than eg with Freya. For a new brand, the shape is very good right from the start with enough uplift to avoid the downwards-7 effect, which can sometimes occur with three-part cup construction + the balconette style. The style is a true balconette but not a completely full-coverage one – this bra is very suitable for everyday wear and goes under most tops and dresses beautifully. I wear it regularly with my Pinup Girl Clothing peasant tops and the butterflies on the cup edge peek beautifully from the low neckline of the top.

The Fit: This is always the most interesting part of reviewing a new brand for you. When looking at the Rochella size chart, you can see that there are no 30 bands in sight, meaning I resulted in opting for my second most worn size, 32GG. I thought it might be a close shot as I am now leaning more towards 32 bands these days – however, British brands are infamous for being looser in the band than their Polish sisters. This was the case with Rochella as well; the 32 band was a size too big for me, but luckily it had four (!) sets of hooks and eyes to tighten it a bit. I am usually wearing it in the tightest or second tightest set of hooks, which is unfortunate as it shortens the lifespan of the bra a bit for me. The fit of the band is definitely on par with the likes of Curvy Kate and Freya, so if you are between band sizes, do size down.

The cups are a bit deeper than your usual British full-bust bra which is a huge upside for me personally – I find most British bras too shallow for my full bust and the Tattoo Butterfly fits me beautifully without any wrinkling at the bottom of the cups. Compared to its Polish counterparts the bra is not super forward-projecting but not as wide and splayed as eg Curvy Kate either. Also the wires are quite average in my opinion, the perfect medium between Polish and most British bras. The straps of the bra are quite long so take that into consideration if you are on the petite side! However, they are also fully-adjustable so there’s a lot of leeway to make them fit you the way you want.

Comfort: Overall the Rochella Tattoo Butterfly set is very comfortable – the materials feel high-quality (though I would be careful with the see-through mesh, it’s super thin and delicate!) and soft to touch. The outer layer is made of stretch satin and the lining out of polyester; I personally prefer cotton lining with my bras but I do feel this is another great option as I don’t feel it’s the kind of scratchy cheap polyester. The lining is a pretty lavender shade to show the support to gynaecology cancer survivors and sufferers – this makes sense as some of the profits go to a gynaecology cancer charity, which is awesome when we are talking about such a new brand.

The only thing that takes a bit away from the comfort factor of this set is that the straps are placed a bit too far apart for me and the cup edge comes up high enough in the armpit to chafe me while being more active. This has not prevented me from wearing this bra A LOT though, so I would say all in all the Rochella sets are not just pretty to look at, they are also quite comfy and very well-fitting. Also the panties get an A+ from me: I went for the size UK 10-12 and they fit me beautifully, I would even say they are one of my most flattering bottoms I own. The back of the briefs is made of super stretchy mesh so these are very butt-friendly and sexy at the same time.

The price point of Rochella is a bit higher than with most UK full-bust brands but that is kind of what the founder of the brand went for – better quality and a big size range (32-42 D-J) are key features with Rochella and I personally feel that £59 for a bra and £30 for the bottoms is a fair price for the pieces. Heck, the hardware on the front part of the straps is 18 ct gold! If you would like to give Rochella lingerie a try, I would suggest taking a look at their web shop, which you find here. They are also adding 30 bands this upcoming autumn so stay tuned for that if you are outside their size range at the moment! I am personally looking forward to trying something from the AW16 collection in 30H, which will be a sligthly better fit for me size-wise. xx

Lingerie Review: Ewa Bien “Laskar B139” in 65F

The first time I encountered Ewa Bien was in my second year of blogging when I ventured more into the world of Polish lingerie. They have always been super nice to me and their lingerie features some of the most gorgeous embroideries in the market. When Joanna from Ewa Bien contacted me to ask whether I would like to feature some of their SS16 styles on the blog I jumped at the chance with joy. This time their spring collection did not include any sizes up to J-cup unfortunately so I asked Jo if she wanted to try something from EB. Of course she did! Here’s a review of their Laskar bra in style B139.

The Design: The style of the Laskar is once again breathtakingly pretty. It’s a muted light orange colour with the right splash of pink – one of the most trendy colour combos this spring. The materials are very light weight with the cups being mostly made out of the thinnest layer of mesh and net-like material. The embroidery is one of the key elements of this design as per usual for Ewa Bien and it instantly brings the bra up to a princess level.

The shape of the bra is a revised Ewa Bien B130, which used to be a shallower version of this new B139. This time the cups are deeper to contain more fullness but also a bit wider to catch all the breast tissue near the armpit area. The shape is super rounded due to the one vertical seam at the centre of the bra cup – almost a bit too rounded for Jo’s liking. She prefers a natural slope to her bustline but I can imagine this ultimate round shape would be a winner for so many other ladies out there. The style is also a multiway as the straps are detachable from both sides of the bra – this is quite practical as during the summer months Jo will most likely be wearing an array of different tops that need more unconventional bra solutions.

The Fit: We asked for a size 65F for Jo as I had the experience of Ewa Bien bras running pretty much true-to-size. The Polish 65F is a rough equivalent to UK 30E which is Jo’s usual bra size in addition to 28F. As she is very petite and Ewa Bien bra bands are on the stretchier side (I would compare them to most UK 30 bands like with Panache and Curvy Kate), a 60 band would have been a closer call for her, but she is still happy in the 65 when wearing it in tightest set of hooks. The cups are on the larger side so there is a tiny bit of gaping on Jo’s smaller boob, which is also completely understandable taking into consideration that her boobs are more full on the bottom. I personally think the B139 would be a great match for more FOT breasts so I would be intrigued to try it in my size in the future (a girl can dream!).

The bra wires are tiny bit wider with Ewa Bien than most Polish brands but this suits Jo quite well. Her breast root is quite average just like mine so the likes of Samanta, Gossard and Ewa Bien are the best fit for both of us. The cups are almost a bit too deep for Jo so the statement about the new version of this bra being deeper all over holds very much true. The centre gore lies flat on Jo’s sternum but is still very comforable and doesn’t stab her despite her bony ribcage area. Even with the slightly too big band the whole ensemble feels super sturdy on and thus supports the ladies through long working days.

Comfort: The Laskar B139 is a great style for everyday wear if you don’t mind the embroidery and like non-padded bras as opposed to regular t-shirt bras. It gives you a modest bustline and coverage while still remaining low enough to go under more low-cut tops. The materials are extremely thin which makes the Laskar a perfect summer bra to wear in hotter climates as well. All of the materials – the sleek band and bottoms material, the netting, mesh and embroidery – feel soft against the skin and don’t cause any irritation even on a more sensitive skin. The C511 Brazilian brief is made to look seamless and smooth under the tightest of jeans, but take our word of warning: Ewa Bien panties run very small so prepare to go up a size or two from your regular UK size. Jo is wearing a Small in the pics.

The only tiny flaw with this bra is one very typical for so many bra manufacturers – the straps are just too widely placed on the shoulders and the bra cup edge near the armpit is too high, causing some minor chafing when having an active day at work. This can leave a hint of red trail where the cup edge cuts the armpit. Red marks are not always a sign of pain or eg a too small bra band, but near the armpit area they are usually a sign of too widely placed straps. The straps themselves are very sturdy though meaning Jo has no trouble of them slipping down and causing inconvenience. Also the chafing problem is sometimes corrected with enough washing which softens the edge a bit to feel more comfortable.

Overall we are very impressed with the Ewa Bien SS16 collection and are looking forward to introducing you to some more styles next month! There will be two more reviews to come so stay tuned ❤ If you would like to give this brand a try, Ewa Bien has their own online shop where you can place an order (as an international customer, you will be billed by email). The Laskar B139 retails for 189 zl (roughly $48) and comes in sizes 65-90 B-I. The C511 bottoms cost 95 zl ($24) and come in sizes S-XL. Have you tried Ewa Bien bras? How do you like them compared to other Polish lingerie brands? Let me know in the comments! xx

PS. If you are a US customer, you can also find Ewa Bien at Luxury Goddess online store!

Lingerie Review: Cleo by Panache “Della” in 32GG + THE GIVEAWAY WINNERS

Hi everyone! So sorry for not posting for a while – life got in the way and I had a very exciting job interview, an exam (first one in three years!) and a dance performance to practice to. So I hope you will excuse me! As a little consolation, I have decided to announce the blogiversary giveaway winners today before the review. The winners have been informed by email already and asked to get back to me in a week’s time. If they fail to do so, another winner will be picked. Congrats to everyone and if you did’t win – well, there is always next year 😉

THE WINNERS ARE…… *drum roll*

For the Playful Promises “Cordelia” set… Amber

For the Signature lingerie set… Sian A., Kelsey, Cat J.

For the Curvy Kate lingerie set… Ruth H.

For Tutti Rouge lingerie set… Kimberley R.

For the Cleo lingerie set… Coline T.

I hope you will all enjoy your new lingerie sets ❤ Now, we need to get on with a review that I am actually super glad to write – I haven’t reviewed any Panache nor Cleo lingerie in a while even though they are definitely one of my favourite lingerie brands. When the lovely Tia from Panache asked me what I would like to review from the spring collection, the Della stood out to me as something a bit different. It was the most Barbie-like design I had seen in a while, and as a living Barbie princess (hehe!) I was instantly drawn to it. Let’s see how we got on with Della!

The Design: As said, the Della looks exactly like something a Barbie doll would wear under her clothes – pink, leopard and all around sweet with a sexy edge. The style is quite simplistic actually – there are no additional lace, bows or ruffles anywhere, just a combo of a killer print and contrasting black trimmings on the wiring, straps, cup edges and the bra band. This set does not need the ruffles – it’s girly and powerful at the same time without any extra touches. The Della bottoms also feature some badass suspenders which is always a plus when it comes to styling the set in a few a different ways.

The shape of the bra is pretty much what Cleo is known for – immaculate roundness that will look amazing under any dress or a shirt, unless you prefer something super natural of course. It is the same shape that made Cleo “Marcie” famous and will continue to win over hearts as something quite unique in the full bust world! The style of the Della is a balconette, meaning the cup edges form a rather straight horizontal line and the centre gore comes up quite high on my sternum. I have to be honest – this is not a bra to wear under low-cut shirts as the gore will show but I do love it with more covering necklines.

The Fit: I was super curious to try Cleo now that I haven’t tried on any of their bras in over a year. My last Cleo bra was a yellow Marcie in 30G which was already a bit tight and small in the cup – which resulted in me in trying a 32GG this time. I was a bit hesitant as I knew that sometimes Panache bras can run on the generous side with the cups but I decided to cross my fingers as this is one of my most common sizes to wear with British lingerie brands. Luckily, I got it perfectly right and the 32GG fitted like a dream! I actually didn’t even remember how well Cleo and Panache bras fit me in general so I was almost crying happy tears to discover my old love for Cleo’s rounded and amazingly deep cups.

What really sets Panache apart from other UK full-bust brands is especially their wire width and cup depth. Personally, I find most British bras too wide and shallow for my shape and thus I am always happy to find some brands taking their own route with this matter. Sure, even Cleo is not the most narrow and deep brand on the market but it is definitely a winner among its rivals in the British full-bust market. For me the cup depth and the wire width of this bra were quite perfect and I have no complaints whatsoever!

When it comes to sizing, I would advice to think carefully what your personal comfort preferences are regarding bra bands. I have found Cleo 30-bands a bit too tight for me so I have decided to take the 32 from now on, even though I can hook it into the tightest set of hooks after a few wears. I just prefer my bands a bit more comfy. However, even if you are between sizes, you can choose to take the smaller option if you like your bands tight – this is definitely a preference thing. The cups of the Della bra run true to size so I would advice to go with your regular UK size with them.

Comfort: In addition to superb fit, I have nothing bad to say about the comfort aspect of Della. The materials are sturdy enough to keep everything in place and even though the band only features two hooks and eyes, the strong power-mesh makes up for it very well. Even the high underwires haven’t caused any problems for me so I am a happy peanut! I do have one downside to report about the bra though – once again, like with most bras I own, the straps are placed a bit too far apart for me personally. However, they are made of a sturdy material, meaning they do not fall of my shoulders constantly, but only a couple of times a day. So not too bad, I would say! Sometimes brands make super cute and sexy bra straps with satin-y materials and those are just a nightmare to me.

The bottoms I opted in a size 12 as I know that Cleo runs on the smaller side with their panties – and I was again quite right! The 12 fits me spot-on but I do wish that these would come up a bit higher. They are meant to be a high-waisted briefs so I would like them to go up to my belly button, whereas now they only reach the middle way of my cookie pouch. Not the most flattering look for me I might say! Also, with this rise the panties do roll down my tummy a bit when sitting which is a pet-peeve of mine. The styling of the bottoms is stunning though and I am glad Cleo had included some suspenders to make the bottoms more sexy and versatile. If you are not a garter-kinda-girl, you have the ability to take the them off and just wear the bottoms as-is.

The Della comes in a whopping size range of 28-28 D-J so there are plenty of sizes to choose from! The bottoms come in sizes 8-18. This set is not very widely available online yet but you can already find it on Breakout Bras, if you would like to give it a try.

How do you like the new Cleo offering for ss16? Are you a fan of their rounded shape? Let me know in the comments below! xx

Lingerie Fit for a Burlesque Star: Louise Ferdinand “Uma” in 32G

I have been admiring Louise Ferdinand lingerie  from a far since a couple of years back. I first became familiar with them through a Fuller Figure Fuller Bust review and was smitten with the vintage styling and the craftsmanship put into the designs. Also what really struck me was the way they used and still use models of all sizes and ethnicities – not many lingerie brands are that inclusive, even in 2016.

Only a couple of weeks back Sandra, the wonder woman behind the brand, contacted me and asked if I wanted to review a sample from them and of course, I couldn’t say no. This brand is still something very unique to the full-bust market – it’s all about innovative styles and nods to the past, with a styling that would woo even the pickiest burlesque queens. Let’s see what Sandra surprised me with!

The Design: I had literally no idea what was coming to me in the mail so when I opened the parcel I was pleasently surprised with the Uma set, which I had already been eyeing at – however, there is probably nothing I don’t like in Louise Ferdinand’s current selection, so I think I would have been happy with probably any of her designs.  The Uma is a rather classic shape for LF meaning it’s a vintage-style plunge balconette, with a rather pointy shape. The bustline is not what a modern western woman usually wants – smooth, super uplifted and round – but I really enjoy this shape, especially under my 40’s style dresses.

The styling itself is so stunning and I am impressed with the combination of girly lace and bow and the black sturdy mesh that gives the bra a more edgier look. I also like that the bow at the centre gore is not red like the trimming at cup edge but a contrasting purple colour. The coverage this bra gives is pretty much perfect for me but I am wondering if it’s because this is a cup size too small for me. In any case, I have worn it a lot with my more low-cut dresses and it works really well with them.

Fit: As I mentioned above, the 32G was about a cup size too small for me so this is definitely not my best size with Louise Ferdinand. I would love to try a 30H someday with this brand as it seems to be running along the lines of other British DD+ brands and thus, I feel that my regular size would have been better for me. Also, the band is a tiny bit loose on me, which is understandable as I measure 31″ under my bust.  I am a bit of a tricky size right now when it comes to bands so I can never know whether to go for 30 or 32, especially if it’s a brand that I am not yet familiar with. The band is quite wide though so it is supportive in the 32 as well, but I prefer to wear it in the tightest set of hooks.

The underwires of this bra are also quite regular for a British brand, so a wee bit too wide for me. However, I did not experience any discomfort with them and they do not bother me at all. The cups are an average depth but designed more for a full-on-bottom shape breasts – my boobs are full-on-top so I am pretty sure that is one of the reasons I’m bulging a bit at the top. The cup edge trimming is quite rigid so I would definitely even recommend sizing up in the cup if you have a bit more breast tissue on the top half of your boobs.

Comfort: I really liked how this set manages to feel quite nice against my skin even when being a quite rigid mesh material. The materials feel like good quality and don’t rub my skin anywhere, not even around the usually-very-itchy armpit area. Also the band and the wires feel really flexible, meaning I can move around in the bra without any discomfort. My only real gripe with the bra are the straps – unfortunately they are too widely placed and stretchy for my body and tend to slip off my shoulders now and then. They are fully-adjustable however, so even when being petite or tall, you can make them work length-wise.

I also got the Uma briefs in size Medium, which is probably around 12 in UK sizes – I found that this runs pretty true-to-size as my butt has grown an inch again (!!! those squats though…) and I am becoming more of a true 12 on the bottom half of my body (which is so annoying cause my waist is still a size 10). The bottoms are quite low but not as much as with eg Cleo – which is good, because Cleo bottoms and I don’t really mesh well together! The briefs is styled with the same cute lace as the bra and cover my bum nicely – I am not a huge fan of the brazilian trend that’s going strong at the moment! Overall the set is a comfy and surprisingly practical little number, but also manages to be sexy enough to wear in the boudoir. Love it!

If you would like to get your hands on some Louise Ferdinand set yourself, do check out their online store here. The Uma set comes in a whopping size range of 28-38 A-J + bottom sizes S-XL, and set you back at £60 for the bra and £34 for the briefs.

Have you tried Louise Ferdinand lingerie yet? Do you like the vintage styling on a modern bra? Let me know in the comments! xx